La Niña–El Niño Twist

Now that the first good rains have come to Limpopo-Lipadi, we can all mutter a big sigh of relief. After the drought of the past year, these rains (‘Pula’ in Setswana) wash our worries a bit away, as things are starting to look up. Research manager Botilo weighs in on what he sees: “We are at the crossroads of climate change’s reality, and its effects are felt everywhere. We can only hope that the worst of both extremes—drought or floods—does not prevail. The 2023/24 rainy season was short and hot, bearing all the hallmarks of an El Niño effect. The summer months were punctuated by numerous heatwaves, and we experienced the hottest October on record. This has spelled disaster for food security and wildlife conservation across the sub-Saharan region. Countries like Zimbabwe and Namibia had already declared states of emergency. Here at Limpopo-Lipadi, we kept our fingers crossed that the little forage available in the Reserve would sustain our wildlife until the first shoots of grass appeared. Meteorological forecasters predicted above-average rainfall for this season, hinting at a La Niña effect. With bated breath, we awaited the rains—and they did not disappoint. So far, we’ve recorded nearly double the rainfall we had at the same time last season. This is indeed a promising start. The veld is already responding with satisfactory vigour, and based on our last ecological audit, the grasses and forbs are well-poised for robust growth. While it might be a bit too early to celebrate, the months ahead look promising—lush and wet. We remain hopeful for more showers to sustain this revival.“ If you would like to support our conservation efforts, have a look on our website: https://limpopo-lipadi.org/donate/. For discreet information on share sales, contact generalmanager@limpopo-lipadi.org. To book a safari, request our rates via reservations@limpopo-lipadi.org or via WhatsApp: (+267) 76770191.